Propeller for vessels.



No. 637,!8l. Patented Nov.-l4, I899.

ILSWEETLAND.

PRUPELLER FOR VESSELS.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1898.)

{No Model.)

1 9134? vuwaeo aww'wtom M f i nzo MWCCZZQ J THE Mauls PETERS 00., vuoro-umo. WASHINGTON a c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO SWEETLAND, OF TALMAGE, CALIFORNIA.

PROPELLER FOR VESSELS.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,181, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed October 8, 1898.

- mage, in the county of Mendocino and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers for Vessels, of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and usleful improvements in propellers for vesse s.

The objects of my invent-ion are to provide suitable pull-rods for paddles which Will permit the paddles to change their angles to an endless belt or chain, as when in passing around a sprocket-wheel or drum; to provide a suitable frame structure, a portion of which constitutes guides whereby a pair of endless belts or chains are prevented from sagging, and to provide suitable paddle-rods with rollers for traveling upon the guides, whereby the chains or belts will run with less friction.

My invention relates also to details of construction hereinafter appearing, and particu-' larly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of a boat or vessel, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a partial plan View of the same, also showing my invention in plan applied thereto; Fig. 3, a detail view of a portion of the endless cl1ain,showin g my improved pull-rod connected therewith, as also connected with one of the paddles near its upper edge, and alsoshowing the rollers on the ends of two or more paddle-shafts; Fig. 4, a detail view showing a portion of the frame structure and the manner in which it may be secured to the boat or vessel, as also a net device for preventing the paddles from becoming obstructed or injured.

The letter A represents a boat, which may be of any size desired, to which is applied my invention,which consists of a frame structure bolted or secured to the sides of the boat by means of lag-screws or bolts B, as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, or in any other suitable manner. This frame structure is composed of suitable braces O, bed-plates D, and angle- Serial No. 692,981. No model-l iron guides E and F, mounted upon and secured to said plates D. Near each end of these guides and between them is mounted a pair of sprocket wheels G and a pair of sprocket-wheels H, respectively, upon the respective shafts I and J, supported by the bearings K in the sides of the vessel. These shafts are long enough to extend a distance beyond the vessel on each side to readily permit of the reception of the sprocket-wheels, as above described. A suitable motor-shaft L, carrying a sprocket-wheel M, also mounted in a bearing in a standard N, acts to transmit motion to one or both of the shafts I and J by means of a sprocket-chain O,passing around a sprocketdriven wheel P on the shaft J. A pair of endless sprocket chains or belts pass around the sprocket-wheelsH and G-that'is, one of said endless sprocket-chains passes around one set of the sprocket-wheels G and H and the other sprocket-chain passes around the other set of sprocket-wheels G and H, thus making a double set of chains running parallel to each other. Referring now to'my improved means for holding the paddles in position and for pulling them through the water and also the manner of connecting them with these endless chains, it will be seen in Fig. 3 that I have provided a pull-rod bifurcated at each end. At its lower end its bifurcation is adapted to fit over one of the endless chains and is pivotally connected with one of the paddle shafts or rods 19. The upper end of these bifurcated pull-rods is adapted to engage with a lug or extension 0, carried by a paddle d, near its upper edge, which paddle is hinged to the paddle-shaft by means of hinges e. The outer ends of said shafts also carry rollers which are adapted to roll upon the angle-irons E and F, forming a portion of the frame structure.

As the sprocket-Wheels or drums are rotated by means of any desired power mechanism within the boat, such as by an engine, (not shown,) the endless chains,together with their paddles, are carried around and dip into the water, the level of which is shown by the line y y, and cause the boat to travel forward, it being understood that the paddles are travel= ing in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that the rods a can pull on the paddles and hold them in their most effective position while theyare traveling through the water, and at the same time, being hinged to the paddle-rods and to the paddles, they will permit the paddles to separate in passing around the outer portion of the sprocket-wheels or drums. There are a sufficient number of these paddles, so that they may act upon the water with enough rapidity to prevent their churning the water into foam and also to reduce the amount of pressure on each paddle.

In order to protect the paddles from injury, I provideastronglattice covering. (Indicated by dotted linesfin Fig. 1 and also as clearly shown in Fig. 4 at g.)

In practice this invention has been found to be very eflicient and as here constructed is durable and cheaply manufactured. In case of a break or accident the parts may be readily supplied, so that undue delays in travel may thus be avoided. Myimproved paddles may travel in either direction around the sprocket-wheels or drn ms with equal facility, so that the vessel or boat may travel either forward or backward, as desired.

Having thus fully described myinvention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In an improved propeller for vessels, the combination with a pair of shafts, of one or more drums or sprocket-wheels mounted on each of said shafts, an endless chain or plate passing around said drums and driven thereby, a series of paddles hinged to said chain, a lug or extension secured to each of said paddles near their outer edges, a pull-rod having each of its ends bifurcated, one of which ends is pivotally connected with one of said extensions and the other end of which extends on each side of said chain, the rod in advance of said paddle, and adapted to extend through such lower end of the pull-rod and also extending through said chain, a roller mounted on the end of said rod, and guides between the drums which also act as supports for said chain and as guideways for said rollers, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO SWEE'ILAND.

IVitnesses: V

C. H. DUNCAN, L. A. ELsTER. 

